Dragon Boat Race 2026
Grab your paddles and life jackets and paddle down the River Trent for Nottingham Hospitals Charity.
When
Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July 2026
Where
Victoria Embankment, Nottingham
Registration fee
£50
Minimum Fundraising Amount
£850
Our action packed Dragon Boat Race weekend begins in
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Our Dragon Boat Race is back and better than ever!
It's time to grab those paddles, put on your life jacket and take to the water - we're heading back to the River Trent for more Dragon Boat action!
Recruit your friends, family, colleagues and anyone who is up for some paddling fun! Minimum age is 13.
No experience is necessary as full training on land and on water is given on the day. Race to victory, raise money for the area of the hospital that is closest to your heart and make a difference to patients and families across Nottingham.
*Your registration fee will help cover the costs of your place in this event. All additional fundraising will go towards your chosen area of Nottingham's hospitals.
Great fun for the whole family
The Dragon Boat Race is a great day out for you and your team and for everyone who comes along to support you.
There will be plenty of Dragon Boat action throughout the day, so invite your cheering squad along for a fun day out. We encourage participants and spectators to bring blankets, gazebos, and a picnic, and enjoy a great day by the river together.
On the day
Every team will take part in heats and a final until one team is crowned the fastest on the day.
There will be prizes for first, second and third place each day, with additional prizes for the Best Dressed Team and the Top Fundraising Team.
Team building at its best
The best part about the Dragon Boat Race is bringing people together.
Each boat seats 17 people (minimum of 13 people, aged 13 and over), including 1 drummer, so grab your friends, family and colleagues and get involved in some exciting paddling fun!
There are 15 boats available each day, so be quick and book your spot now – these events do sell out!
*Your registration fee will help cover the costs of your place in this event. All additional fundraising will go towards your chosen area of Nottingham's hospitals.
A huge thank you to this year's sponsors of our Dragon Boat Race
- Main Event Sponsor (Saturday) - Ikano Bank
- Main Event Sponsor (Sunday) - Available for sponsorship
- Drinks Sponsor - Available for sponsorship
If you would like to sponsor one of our Dragon Boat race days or a part of the event, please fill in the form below.
Take a look at our FAQs
Anyone over the age of 16 can take part in our Dragon Boat Races. All you need is 13 -17 people to fill up a boat.
The great thing about our Dragon Boat Race is that it’s the perfect event for everyone. Whether you have never set foot in a dragon boat before, or you’re returning to our event for another year, you will be given guidance from the experts at Notts Anaconda.
Each team is asked to raise a minimum of £850 in sponsorship – based on 17 team members, that’s only £50 each. When you register, you agree to be bound to the terms and conditions of entry, and commit to raising or donating at least £850. This can be paid at the time of registering if you prefer. You can choose which area of the hospitals or which ward you would like to support through your fundraising. We also encourage participants to request match funding from employers, to help double how much is raised!
It’s strongly encouraged that you fundraise as a team. Whether you set up a JustGiving page with your team’s name or collect sponsorship donations at your workplace, there are plenty of ways to drum up support for your team.
Absolutely! We encourage participants of the Dragon Boat Race to have fun and participate in fancy dress. There is even a prize on each day for the best dressed team!
Details are above on how to register. Once you have completed the form, one of our fundraising team will be in touch with more information about fundraising, event details and how to prepare.
All fundraising money raised at the Dragon Boat Race goes back towards supporting patient care at Nottingham’s NHS hospitals. You can read more about the impact your donation has here.
Our Dragon Boat Races will go ahead in most weather conditions. In the event of extreme weather such as strong winds, Nottingham Hospitals Charity will work with Notts Anaconda to see if the event can go ahead. In this case, we will contact you with updates and safety information.
To be able to take part in our Dragon Boat Race, you must be 13 years old or older.
You can contact our events team by dropping us an email at hello@nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk or give us a call on 0115 962 7905.
A team day with a difference...
Want to get your colleagues involved? The Dragon Boat Race is a great team building exercise and helps build a stronger relationship with you and your colleagues.
We've helped a wide range of Nottingham businesses get involved in the Dragon Boat Race. Get in touch to find out how we can help you support Nottingham Hospitals.
What to expect on the day
- Your group will be given a time of when to arrive but feel free to get there earlier and get the best viewing spot
- Once your time arrives, you'll be called up with your team for a briefing by the team from Anaconda where you will learn how to row on a beat.
- You'll then race heats against other teams to determine who you'll race against in the afternoon.
- They'll be a break in between races, so feel free to bring your own food or use the local café.
- One of our team will also be taking photos throughout the day, so make sure your team are ready to give their best smiles.
Need help with your fundraising?
- As the Dragon Boat Race is a team event, you can split the fundraising amount between team members. If you are a business or an area within Nottingham hospitals, we can provide you with a collection tin to help you gain more donations.
- You can raise this by setting up a JustGiving page or by downloading out sponsorship form.
- We're here if you need any advice or guidance on how to ask people for donations. Don't worry if you haven't reached your target by the day, sometime it takes a little while for sponsorship money to come in.
- Feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions about the day or fundraising. You can email us at charity@nuh.nhs.uk or call us on 0115 962 7905
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